Clinical characteristics of hospitalised patients with schizophrenia who were suspected to have coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hubei Province, China

Abstract

BackgroundSince the outbreak of COVID-19, no data have been available for hospitalised psychiatric patients who are suspected to have COVID-19. We performed a comprehensive investigation of the clinical features of hospitalised patients with schizophrenia with or without suspected COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China.AimTo explore the clinical characteristics of hospitalised patients with schizophrenia with suspected COVID-19 in Hubei Province, China.Methods21 hospitalised patients with schizophrenia with suspected COVID-19 (COVID-19 suspected group) in the isolation ward of a mental health hospital in Wuhan and 30 hospitalised patients with schizophrenia (clean group) in the general ward of another mental health hospital in Yichang were recruited. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and chest CT results before 21 February 2020. We also compared the emotional and mental symptoms between the two groups.ResultsMedical records revealed that 21 COVID-19 suspected patients were transferred to the isolation ward between 30 January 2020 and 15 February 2020. The mean age (SD) of COVID-19 suspected patients was 43.1 (2.6). 12 (57.1%) patients showed abnormalities on chest CT before onset of respiratory symptoms. 14 (66.7%) patients had psychiatric medications adjustment after detection of abnormal chest CT findings. By 21 February, one patient was confirmed to have COVID-19. Even though the remaining 20 (95.2%) were negative for at least two reverse transcription PCR tests, 11 (52.4%) patients met the diagnostic criteria for clinically confirmed cases. Compared with patients in the clean group, patients in the suspected COVID-19 group showed significantly higher stress, depression and anxiety levels and poorer sleep quality.ConclusionSetting up an independent isolation ward for hospitalised psychiatric patients who are suspected to have symptoms of COVID-19 helped control the spread of the epidemic. Patients with schizophrenia suspected to have COVID-19 showed increased stress and mood and sleep disturbances, which should be appropriately managed.

Pandemics and pre-existing mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Of these 237 articles were excluded, and the remaining 85 full text articles were reviewed. Fifteen studies were finally found to be eligible and table 2 provides the description of the included studies (Lara et al 2020; Berthelot et al 2020 ; Clerici et al 2020 ; Fernandez-Aranda et al 2020 ; Gonzalez-Sanguino et al 2020 ; Goodman-Casanova et al 2020 ; Hao et al 2020 ; Iancu et al 2005 ; Liu et al 2020 ; Maguire, Reay, and Looi 2019 ; Ozdin and Bayrak Ozdin 2020 ; Phillipou et al 2020 ; Van Der Heide and Coutinho 2006 ; Zhou et al 2020 ; Pang and Tam 2004).…”

“…However a more recent study by Liu, et al (2020) which compared schizophrenic subjects who were suspected of having Covid 19 with those who were not suspected of the same, found no difference in PANSS scores in the two groups. They found that the Covid suspect group was found to have more anxiety, depression, stress and sleep problems than the comparator group ( Liu et al 2020 ).…”

Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: narrative review

“…Supplementary Table 1 available at provides a summary of characteristics of the included studies in this review. 2,4-50…”

“…Liu et al 38 reported on 21 in-patients with schizophrenia who were transferred to an isolation unit of a psychiatric hospital for suspected COVID-19 infection. The comparison group included 30 in-patients with schizophrenia without any COVID-related symptoms.…”

Patients With the Novel SARS-Cov-2 Disease Require a Novel Standard of Care—Med-Psych

“…Relapses of an already existing mental health condition are observed as well. 3 The isolation in departments caring for SARS-Cov-2 patients is multidimensional. Patients cannot leave the hospital, even if they are willing to bear the medical responsibility and consequences.…”